Roller assembly for boats



1967 w. B. HOFFMAN 3,333,861

ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS Filed Nov. 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl iii iiitiii:iiiiijjjiiiti fit If INVENTOR.

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1, 1967 w. B HOFFMAN ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1964 INVENTQR. l/

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ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS Filed Nov. 127, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet Z- A flomeys United States Patent 3,333,861 ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS William B. Hoifman, 67 Ships Point Lane, Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771 Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,267 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-4732) This invention relates to a demountable roller assembly for boats, and particularly to such a roller assembly which can readily be attached and detached, and which makes it easy to move a boat--particularly a small one-over land surfaces for limited distances.

It is quite customary to transport boats from the waters edge onto the land, and across land surfaces for short hauls, boats of all sizes can be moved on rollers, either solid or inflatable, the type and number of rollers depending on the size of the load, the nature of the surface and other factors. Except where the distance to he traveled is quite short, the repeated insertion of rollers under the forward end of the boat and removal from the rear end can make this operation quite inconvenient. When a boat, particularly a relatively heavy one, has to be moved along a highway, a trailer is necessary (except for very light car-top boats) and such trailers require special equipment such as lights so that they may be registered as vehicles.

The present invention constitutes an adaptation of the roller principle in order to gain some of the advantages of a trailer without its complications and expense. This desirable result is achieved by providing, basically, a roller assembly in which one or more wide rollers are mounted on an axle which is positioned beneath the boat by vertical struts removably secured to the sides of the boat.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a transverse vertical section through a typical small boat, showing one form of the roller assembly installed in operative position, part of one roller being broken away;

FIG. 2 represents a side elevation of the assembly, shown in FIG. 1, parts of the boat hull being broken away;

FIG. 2a represents a detail side elevation of a modified form of strut bracket; FIG. 2b represents a detail vertical section on the line II-II of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3 represents a detail perspective view of the hinged bracket for the strut, on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 represents a detail vertical section through part of a roller assembly according to FIG. 1, showing an alternative form of roller and strut;

FIG. 5 represents an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 represents an enlarged axial section through one end of a roller; FIG. 6a being a further enlarged detail section illustrating the nature of the roller skin;

FIG. 7 represents an elevation of a modified form of rollers;

FIG. 8 represents, On an enlarged scale, a transverse section on the line VHI-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 represents a detail elevation of a modified form of axle latch on the lower end of a strut;

FIG. 10 represents an elevation of another modified form of roller, parts being broken away and shown in section;

3,333,861 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 FIG. 11 represents an end view of the roller shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 represents an elevation of a still further modified form of roller, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 13 represents an end view of the roller shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 represents an elevation of a further modified form of roller;

FIG. 15 represents an end view of the roller shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 represents a detail sectional view of the roller of FIG. 14, on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, the boat used for illustrative purposes may be assumed to be a small (12' to 16') outboard type hull with sides S, bottom B and keel K, the sides being finished along their top edges by rub strakes R.

The roller assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plurality (three being shown) of cylindrical rollers 1, each composed of resilient material such as sponge rubber or an equivalent spongy plastic material 2 with a wearresistant covering 3 such as heavy canvas (rubberized or not). Each roller is traversed axially by a bore 4, preferably lined either with a tubular extension of the covering 3 or with a separate tube of other suitable material. An axle 5, preferably metallic, extends through the bores of the rollers with a free fit so that the rollers can run easily on the axle without binding and with minimum friction. The ends of the axle are threaded for a short distance to receive nuts 6. The rollers may, if desired, be spaced apart by collars 7 and the outer ends of the rollers should be spaced from the threaded ends of the axles by collars 8 which may, in this instance, be threaded and screwed onto the axle in order to hold the rollers securely against axial displacement.

The roller axle is mounted beneath the boat by means of struts 9, the bottom end of which may be forked as indicated at 10 in FIG. 2, for convenience of assembling, and the top end of which is developed into two parallel prongs 11 fitting snugly in vertical holes of the upper bracket 12. The strut may also have horizontal extensions 13 projecting beyond the prongs 11 to provide a more extended surface to bear against the bottom of the bracket 12, for additional stability. The brackets 12 are fixed strongly and permanently to the sides of the boat, preferably, in most instances, at points near or slightly astern of the normal center of gravity of the boat.

In the modified form of strut bracket, shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the upper part of the strut 11' is round and fits snugly in the correspondingly shaped vertical socket in the bracket 12, fixed to the side of the boat as in the case of the bracket 12. The strut 11' could, if desired, be square in cross-section, fitting in a square socket. Since a greater length of the strut is engaged in the bracket 12, no lower bracket (such as 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2) is needed.

Since boats of the type here considered are commonly built with their sides (whether straight or rounded) sloping inward, it is advisable to provide additional brackets 14 which can ensure lateral stability of the struts and roller assembly while supplementing the basic fore-and-aft stability from engagement of the prongs 11 and extensions 13 with the upper bracket. The brackets 14, being at or near the water line, are made in the form of hinges with a flat part 15 secured to the hull and another flat part 16 hinged at 17 to the part 15. A U-shaped recess 18 extends in from the free edge of the part 16 a suflicient distance to accommodate freely the strut 9 and the edges of the part 16 on each side of the recess are rolled at 19, 19' to receive a locking pin 20 which holds the strut in the recess. The same locking pin can be used to hold the part 16 folded against the part 15, by passing it also through the rolled edge 21 of the part 15. The pin should be secured against loss by means of a chain 23, or equivalent means, and the chain may conveniently serve to support the hinge part 16 while the strut is being inserted if the pin is about pulled out.

In FIGS. .4, 6 and 6a the rollers are shown as being formed of internally rubberized fabric (i.e. canvas) the fabric 23 having an internal coating of rubber 24, not only on the outer surface and ends but also on the axial tubular core 25 through which the axle 26 passes with a free fit. The lower end of the strut 27 shown in FIGS. 4 and is not forked, as in FIG. 2, but is bored at 28 to receive the end of the axle which is prevented from slipping out by the nut or nuts 29. The rubberized fabric rollers are inflated to a suitable pressure (which may be quite low) either through a valve (not shown) or through a needle.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a single long roller 30 which may be of rubberized fabric, as shown, or might be of foam rubber as in FIG. 1. In either case the roller may be fixed on its axle 31, the axle then turning in the strut ends, of whatever type they may be. The fabric roller 30 is provided with one or more internal webs or diaphragms 32 secured to the inner surface of the roller at 33 and to the central tubular core 34 at 35, such webs serving to stabilize the position of the roller surface with respect to the axle at points spaced from the ends of the roller. There is no need for the roller to be compartmented, so the webs 32 are shown as perforated, permitting air to circulate freely and maintain uniform pressure throughout the roller.

The mechanical details of the engagement between the axle and the struts can be varied widely and may include (in addition to the open forked end of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the bored end of FIGS. 5 and 6) any suitable form of easily operable latch, exemplified in FIG. 9 by the forked end 36 closed by a hinged latch 37 which can be releasably snapped into closed position as indicated by the full lines or opened as shown in broken lines.

In the roller of FIGS. and 11 the axle 38 is pro.- vided with an annular stop 39 at each end of the roller, the fabric skin 40 being filled with spongy material 41 such as sponge rubber and the edges of the fabric adjacent the axle at each end being held in place against the stops, and given additional support, by the flat or slightly dished annular plates 42 which are fixed on the axle.

The roller of FIGS. 12 and 13 is of the inflated type, with a tubular core 43 having end flanges 44 adapted to engage the edges of the rubberized fabric skin 45 at each end, the fabric being held tightly against the flanges by annular plates 46, suitably fixed on the axle 47. This type of roller could be made to run free on the axle by giving the plates 46 a free fit on the axle and drawing them toward the flanges 44 by set screws or the like (not shown) in order to grip the fabric edges.

In the roller of FIGS. 14, and 16 the ends of the rubberized fabric 48 lie along the surfaces of the axle 49 outward from stops 50 (like stops 39 in FIG. 10) the fabric being clamped tightly against the axle by sleeves 51, which may be compressed radially against the fabric to seal it in contact with the axle surface. The sleeves 51 may be covered by collars 52, if desired, held in place as by set screws 53. A roller having ends of this type can be made free-running on the axle by the addition of a tubular core, as in FIG. 12, against which the fabric is sealed.

.The axles in FIGS. ,10 to 16 are shown, for simplicity, as having plain ends; it will be understood that the ends other power) available, and the details of the roller assembly. As one example, a boat of the general character indicated (with or without an outboard motor attached or aboard) is nosed gently to the shore; the single or multiple roller (with axle) is placed under the bow; the

boat is drawn ashore, with as little dragging as possible,

until the roller is approximately under the strut brackets; a strut is engaged with an end of the axle on one side and that side of the boat is lifted so that the strut can be engaged at least with the bracket 12 and preferably also with the bracket 14 (or with bracket 12, if that form is used); the last named operations are repeated on the opposite side, and the boat can now be rolled along any desired distance over surfaces of moderate roughness, the boat itself having been converted, in effect, into the chassis of a trailer and the roller assembly serving as the wheels.

As another example, a roller and axle, with struts attached, can be pushed down into the water at the bow or stem of a floating boat; the roller being then rolled along the bottom by manipulation of the struts until the assembly is opposite the brackets when the struts are pushed down, brought up in engagement with the brackets 12 and adjusted into engagement with the brackets 14 (or with brackets 12, if present). The boat is thus rendered amphibious and can be drawn ashore easily, as on a sloping beach or rock.

A boat which is too heavy to be drawn or lifted (even partially) by hand can be winched or towed and jacked or otherwise mechanically lifted in order to install the roller assembly. In such cases it may also be appropriate to use two such roller assemblies, carrying the entire weight of the boat, instead of using only one and relying on the towing agency (human or otherwise) to support a small proportion of the weight and balance the boat on its roller.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts and hence I do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described herein except as the same are included in the claims or may be required by disclosures of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A launching, landing and short haul roller assembly for a boat having cooperating elements on its sides for the temporary attachment of the assembly to and complete detachment thereof from the boat, said assembly comprising, an elongated rigid axle, at least one elongated roller mounted on said axle and having a compressible resilient surface, said roller being capable of avoiding sinking in soft terrain under the weight of the boat and also of surmounting hard objects in the terrain, the axle and roller being adapted to be operatively positioned transversely beneath the boat, together with a pair of uprising struts having their lower ends detachably secured to said axle adjacent the extremities of the latter and their upper ends formed for temporary operative engagement with said cooperating elements on the sides of the boat.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, in which the form of the upper ends of the struts and the form of the cooperating elements on the sides of the boat are adapted to establish a prong and socket engagement.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 2, in which the said prong and socket engagement is plural with the prongs in longitudinal alignment transverse to the axle.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1, in which the struts are substantially straight for bracing by additional cooperating elements fixed on the sides of the boat below the struts when the latter are in operative position.

5 6 the first named elements to contact and laterally reinforce 3,054,622 9/ 1962 Davis et a1. 28047.3 X 3,112,727 12/1963 Kiefer 1151 3,173,396 3/1965 Bradov 1l51 Referemes Cited 3,216,735 11/1965 Larson et a1. 152-9 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Brogem LEO FRIAGLIA, Przmary Exammer. Maranvllle 152-9 ENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner. h J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner. Nelsler et a1. 

1. A LAUNCHING, LANDING AND SHORT HAUL ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A BOAT HAVING COOPERATING ELEMENTS ON ITS SIDES FOR THE TEMPORARY ATTACHMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY TO AND COMPLETE DETACHMENT THEREOF FROM THE BOAT, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED RIGID AXLE, AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID AXLE AND HAVING A COMPRESSIBLE RESILIENT SURFACE, SAID ROLLER BEING CAPABLE OF AVOIDING SINKING IN SOFT TERRAIN UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE BOAT AND ALSO OF SURMOUNTING HARD OBJECTS IN THE TERRAIN, THE AXLE AND ROLLER BEING ADAPTED TO BE OPERATIVELY POSITIONED TRANSVERSELY BENEATH THE BOAT, TOGETHER WITH A PAIR OF UPRISING STRUTS HAVING THEIR LOWER ENDS DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID AXLE ADJACENT THE EXTREMITIES OF THE LATTER AND THEIR UPPER ENDS FORMED FOR TEMPORARY OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COOPERATING ELEMENTS ON THE SIDES OF THE BOAT. 